Inhibitory activity of interleukin 2-activated lymphocytes on human granulocyte precursors (CFU-g)

Interleukin 2-activated lymphocytes (lymphokine-activated killer [LAK] cells) cultured from 2 to 14 days were added to the cultures of granulocyte precursors (CFU-g). The LAK cells inhibited colony formation of granulocyte precursors; LAK cells cultured for five days showed the strongest inhibitory activity on colony formation. The presence of cell-to-cell interaction between LAK cells and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) in CFU-g assays emphasized the LAK cell-derived colony inhibitory activity (LAK-CIA), but cell-to-cell interaction was not always a requirement for LAK-CIA, since LAK cells were also found to inhibit colony formation without such interaction. This report shows that LAK cells can inhibit in vitro colony formation of granulocyte precursors. We therefore concluded that the observed CIA is caused by soluble factor(s) derived from LAK cells, and that E-rosette-forming cells are manifesting LAK-CIA.